Graham Rena

Biography

Dr Graham Rena undergraduate BSc studies were at University of Bristol, followed by Ph.D. studies with Professor Miles Houslay FRSE at the University of Glasgow and postdoctoral work with Professor Sir Philip Cohen FRS, FRSE at the University of Dundee.

Graham was a Caledonian Research Foundation Fellow between 2004 and 2007 before staying on to take up a permanent lectureship at the University of Dundee. Graham has been a contributing author on over 30 peer-reviewed publications.

The key area of current research is drug repurposing, particularly including recent key insights into metformin action. Graham’s research has attracted more than £1 million worth of grants awarded by MRC, Diabetes UK and other major funders.

Graham also enjoys teaching particularly including innovative international teaching activities in Kuwait.

Research

METFORMIN: USEFUL IN NON-DIABETIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE?

A major recent focus has been metformin, which is the gold-standard treatment of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. The target of this drug has been unknown since the drug’s antihyperglycaemic properties were identified almost a century ago. Our work has included high-profile investigation of anti-inflammatory effects of the drug, which may contribute towards cardioprotective effects in patients and which we have found occurring irrespective of diabetes status (Cameron and co-workers (Circ. Res. 2016); Rena and Lang (Circulation 2018).